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Hey everyone, I wanted to write and give my sponsors and friends another update on what has been going on since my last update, which I now realize was well over a month ago! Laguna Seca: Wow! Laguna was awesome, not only getting to race there (it was my first time racing at the track), but because of the history and layout of the track. Overall, it was a very special weekend for us. I really was hoping to get a win in for my dad, but things just didn’t work out that way. I ended up getting a 7th in the race, after what was a really nasty fall in someone else’s oil during qualifying. Not the results that I was hoping for, but all in all, it was still a special weekend for me and my family. Everyone had come out, including my Mom and my younger brother Cole, which always makes it more fun. One of the things that I took away from Laguna is that I need more speed, plain and simple. Any by “more speed”, I mean that I have to get faster as a rider, and it is totally up to me. I talked to my dad about this, and we agreed that getting faster pretty much comes with seat time on a motorcycle. So I left Laguna with the goal to ride as much as possible, and ride anything with two wheels, so long as it had a motor! We loaded up our family van and made the long drive back to Texas on the Monday after Laguna. Cresson, Texas: The weekend after Laguna, we decided it would be a good idea to hit up a local club race, which was having a combination endurance / sprint race program. It was part of the CMRA, I and raced a 6 hour endurance race on Saturday. We managed to bring home the overall win in the expert class, as well as the superbike class, which was pretty cool and fun. I was able to get a TON of seat time on the bike. On Sunday, I decided to race in three of the Sprint classes. I had to start at the back of each class (because it’s based on points standings and I have not raced any of them this year) but it just made it that much more fun working up and trying to get to the front of the pack. This was using our theme of “seat time” as well. I managed to get a 4th in the Superbike “C” expert, as well as a fourth in the Superstock “C” expert. Aside from passing a ton of guys, the highlight of those races was having the second fastest lap time in the Supersport class. My CBR600RR was hauling butt and never let me down, even in 105 degree heat! The other race I did was on my younger brother Cole’s Moriwaki 250, which I rode in the 125 GP class. That bike is one of the coolest rides ever, as it makes you feel like you are on rails in every turn. It was defiantly a different riding style, but one that was very fun, and taught me how to hang it out a little more on my Honda 600 big bike. Overall, Cresson was a good weekend, and I had somewhere around 5 hours or more riding a race bike, which was exactly what I was getting after. Topeka, Kansas: I came into the Topeka AMA Pro race fit and ready – it was the last race of the season for the West Coast Supersport Championship, and I was really looking forward to a strong result. Overall, and after a somewhat drama filled weekend in the paddock with some of the other guys bailing out, I wasn’t the happiest with the result. But, the end result and the final standings in points raised my chin a little bit and I’m looking forward even more to next year, getting much faster this winter and ultimately making my way right to the very top of the box. I was able to finish the season 3rd ranked AMA Supersport West Region points. While I am not totally happy with this result (I want to win!), I keep telling myself that this is only the second season that I have been racing, and that with practice, patience, and a ton of work and dedication, I can and will get better and faster at this. So that is my plan!!
Our next big race is to head down to Daytona in October for the Supersport Shoot out, where we have a combined East/West race, and where I hope to get on the podium. Daytona is a track I am familiar with, having already raced there this spring.
In the meantime, I am doing some road biking, running, motocrossing, and trail riding and hanging out with my family and friends. I want to say a special thank you to my dad for making this season happen. While it is not over yet, I am really lucky to have both my parents full support and my dads experience and knowledge as a racer. So there you have it!
In other news, we are working on our 2010 plans. I also launched my own website, www.clintshobert.com . It’s not totally dialed in yet, but we are working on getting it looking cool, and including more pictures and info about my sponsors. I also will be posting updates on the site as well. Check it out and become a fan! If you want to send any files or links to it, please do so, and I will get them up and running.
Lastly both myself and our team, Shobert Family Racing, wishes to thank American Honda and Pro Honda Oils & Chemicals (and the awesome CBR600RR), Honda Riders Club of America (HRCA), Alpinestars, Arai, Dunlop Tires, Shark Skins, Shift, KHS, Kyle Racing, K&N Filters, AFAM, TaylorMade, Leo Vince, Fox Racing, Shift, Ohlins, Zero Gravity, Motion Pro, Lone Star Beef Jerky, Vesrah, Sign Design and Automasters. In addition, my family wishes to thank personal sponsors Tim O’Sullivan and George McMahan, as well as Joe Fenich. Thanks, and please do not hesitate to contact me! Clint Shobert #26
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